Rivers and lakes · Sauraha
Dugout canoe trip on the Rapti
A quiet hour drifting down the East Rapti in a dugout canoe carved from a single tree, watching mugger crocodiles, kingfishers and storks, then walking back to Sauraha through the forest with two nature guides.
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Canoes leave from the riverbank at Sauraha soon after sunrise. Each long, narrow boat is cut from one kapok or similar trunk, seats about six people on low stools, and sits only a hand's width above the water. A boatman stands at the stern with a long pole and paddle and lets the current do most of the work. Talking is kept to whispers. Life jackets are provided by most operators.
In the first hour you pass mugger crocodiles basking on the sandbanks, cormorants drying their wings, and several species of kingfisher. In winter, ruddy shelducks and other migrant ducks gather in the slower water. Rhinos sometimes feed at the river's edge, and spotted deer come down to drink. Fog on winter mornings softens everything and makes the trip feel slower and stranger. Bring binoculars.
Most trips end downstream, where you climb out and walk back with your nature guides through riverine forest and grassland. Some routes finish at the elephant breeding centre at Khorsor. The walk takes one to two hours on flat ground, and it is here that guides read tracks and dung and explain what passed in the night. Bring water, a hat and insect repellent.
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Questions
Is the canoe trip in Chitwan safe with crocodiles around?
Yes, when you follow the boatman's instructions. Mugger crocodiles are wary of boats and almost always slide into the water as you approach. Sit still, keep your hands inside the canoe and do not stand up. The canoes are stable on the slow Rapti, but non-swimmers can ask for a life jacket, which most operators now carry.
What time should I do the canoe ride?
Early morning is best, from about 7 am in winter and 6 am in spring, when birds are active and the light is soft. In December and January thick fog may hide the banks for the first hour, which is atmospheric but limits sightings. Late afternoon trips work too, especially in March and April when midday heat is strong.
Can children join the canoe trip?
Children who can sit quietly for an hour usually enjoy it. Lodges generally set a minimum age for the jungle walk that follows, often around eight to ten years, and may suggest a jeep pick-up at the landing point for younger children instead. Ask your lodge for its rules before you book.
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